Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
I am a senior, and this is my fourth year on staff. The Pathfinder has helped me push myself independently, build a supportive community and grow through my mistakes. Though I write a lot of opinions, I do seek to understand the other side— my newfound knowledge always either strengthens my own position or changes my mind. I love fairy princess tea parties with my friends and 12-hour study marathons. In the rest of my time, I am Student Body co-Vice President, a part of the Scholar Bowl team and often found on or around Creve Coeur Lake with St. Louis Rowing Club. I most enjoy the small moments; a friend’s laugh, the brush of my fingers against a piece of paper and the first glimpse of daffodil yellow after a really long winter (gotta love Missouri weather).
![Senior Marissa Liu embraces the fairy tea party theme by wearing a mushroom-inspired hat. Liu created the hat using materials she found around her house. “Use the resources you have [when preparing for themed events],” Liu said. “You dont really have to go out and buy a lot of things, you can just try and put [an outfit] together [from what you already have].”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/marissa-600x900.jpg)
![Experimenting with prototypes to create different types of motion, freshman Joseph Britt works on his automaton for engineering teacher Chris Donaldsons Intro to Engineering class. In the week leading up to spring break, Britt, along with junior Levi Ladd and sophomores Rick Biswas and David Meisinger, worked on their robotics project during class in anticipation of competing at the 2020 Vex Robotics World Championships, under the agreement that they would finish the class project over spring break. I offered to build [the automaton] because I had the parts to build it, and its important to keep busy. It can be fun to challenge yourself and do new things, Britt said. I am planning on learning some new skills, like text coding, that I might use next year in robotics. If you dont always have something interesting to do, the time can just kind of blend together and you can get bored.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_5823-900x675.jpg)
![Jamming out to “Don’t Stop” by DJ D-Sol, teachers Jeff Chazen, Jessica Wheeler and Katelyn Arenos get ready to ramp up the endorphins. When teacher Emily Lovercheck is not able to make it to the spin sessions, Arenos takes over leading the class with her playlist. “Music, especially with spinning, dictates how fast we go, if we add resistance [and] if we get a break. When the song speeds up, we speed up. When the song slows down, we slow down,” Arenos said. “I’m just really thankful that the school provides us with this opportunity to have a nice workout center. We are just thankful to have this space.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/TeacherSpin-900x622.jpg)
![Junior Arden Dickson acts out applying makeup onstage. Dickson believes that acting teaches you how to tell a story, which is also important for singing. This led her to create her blog where she shares her experiences with friends and family. “I have heard people [respond with] ‘thank you for sharing’ or ‘I have been in a similar situation myself,’ so its good to hear that other people are also facing similar situations and that my work is helping others.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IMG-3659-900x600.jpg)
![Writing a Teacher of the Year nomination note in World History teacher Amy Thornhill’s class, sophomore Kate Yates gets the opportunity to thank her teacher of choice, as well as possibly nominate them as Teacher of the Year. “[Teachers] spend so much time and effort to teach us and make sure we understand the content. We need a way to appreciate them so they know we are thankful for everything they do for us,” Yates said. “We should [have a say] because we spend the most time with [teachers]. We are the ones in their classes all day.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DSC_0053-900x600.jpg)
![At the end of her second tennis season, sophomore Lucy Billadeau prepares to hit a backhand. Billadeau cherished the banquet and the relationships she formed with all the girls and her doubles partners. “I was doubles partner with different people; I got switched around a lot. A lot of other doubles partners make up handshakes and little things to do in between each point to keep their morale high. When I was partners with [junior] Sarenna Wood, we did some dragonfly move we made up,” Billadeau said. “The biggest things that motivate me are my partners––you never want to let them down. It also motivates me to know that even if I do lose, I am getting better, and I am improving.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/brinda-ambal-900x600.jpg)
![Feeding a live mouse to snake Tupac Tuba Gilbert Scott the Seventh, junior Nev Hill snatches a front-row view as classmates crowd around to watch the spectacle unfold. It is strongly suggested for students in Zoology, a course taught by science teacher Amy Cohen (not pictured), to own or co-own a pet. “[People who are scared] should just meet my snake because she’s really sweet. I think they just need to get over the initial fear factor and just realize that they’re really sweet animals [that] aren’t going to hurt anybody,” Hill said. “[My snake] is cute, and she is just there. She has never bitten anyone [and] never would bite anybody. She just sits there and wants to cuddle and be warm around your neck or your hand.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/NevHillPOW-900x600.jpg)
![Highlighting the importance of access to feminine hygiene products for all, sophomores Anna Newberry, Mira Nalbandian, Santi Lugo and Mason Paul model their future club plans. Newberry believes inaccessibility of products can lead to health issues, embarrassment and even a lack of belonging. “I want to stock bathrooms with feminine hygiene products to help reduce stigma and embarrassment that can come with having a period,” Newberry said. “I know [I] haven’t come to school before because I was embarrassed and wanted to go home, or I was in pain or didn’t have what I needed to have. I feel like everyone has a right to be here, and I feel like no one should feel like they can’t come to school.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/gowitflow-900x600.jpg)
![Aside from learning rowing techniques and mindset skills, junior Emma Wistuba also spends time bonding with friends during her month-long stay. The girls resided in dorm rooms and spent breaks getting to know one another. “There are always going to be people that you dont get along [with] and ODP helped me overcome that. I knew I wasnt going to [immediately] get along with everybody, so I went out of my way to be nice and do things,” Wistuba said. “One night, the whole floor came into my room, and we started making friendship bracelets. Thats what we did, and we just had fun. Thats important for my future because Im going to have to do that around people who I really dont like, and its important that you can take those people and turn them into people that you can be friends with.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_1941-900x675.jpg)
![Scooping ingredients to fill the MannaPack, sophomores Aliana Sawall, Sarah Boland and Anna Newberry laugh over spilled rice Saturday, Aug. 17, at Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Queeny Park. Donations to Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) helped to purchase rice, soy, dried vegetables and vitamins, which then got packaged and sent to children in need. “We learned to not yell when one of us spilled something and to communicate better so that no one poured something into the funnel when the bag wasn’t opened yet,” Newberry said. “From this, [I gained] understanding that everyone is different, but we can still find a way to work together and be a unit.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_4302-900x675.jpg)
